Read inaugural poet Amanda Gorman’s Super Bowl LV tribute to frontline COVID-19 workers

In the moments before the Sunday night coin toss of Super Bowl LV, poet Amanda Gorman heralded essential workers on the front lines of the nation’s novel coronavirus fight with her original work, “Chorus of the Captains.”

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Gorman, the National Youth Poet Laureate who mesmerized the nation during President Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, was the first poet in Super Bowl history invited to participate in the formal festivities. She prerecorded Sunday’s reading that singled out the game’s three honorary captains: Marine Corps veteran James Martin, COVID ICU nurse manager Suzie Dorner and educator Trimaine Davis.

The video of Gorman, 22, reciting “Chorus of the Captains” aired immediately prior to the three heroes’ on-field introductions leading to the coin toss.

The full text can be found below.

Chorus of the Captains

Today we honor our three captains

For their actions and impact in

A time of uncertainty and need.

They’ve taken the lead,

Exceeding all expectations and limitations,

Uplifting their communities and neighbors

As leaders, healers and educators.

James has felt the wounds of warfare,

But this warrior still shares

His home with at-risk kids.

During Covid, he’s even lent a hand

Live-streaming football for family and fans.

Trimaine is an educator who works nonstop,

Providing his community with hotspots,

Laptops and tech workshops,

So his students have all the tools

They need to succeed in life and in school.

Suzie is the ICU nurse manager at a Tampa hospital.

Her chronicles prove that even in tragedy, hope is possible.

She lost her grandmothers to the pandemic,

And fights to save other lives in the ICU battle zone,

Defining the front line heroes risking their lives for our own.

Let us walk with these warriors,

Charge on with these champions,

And carry forth the call of our captains!

We celebrate them by acting

With courage and compassion,

By doing what is right and just.

For while we honor them today,

It is they who every day honor us.

Cox Media Group